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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

For Mother's Day this year, Jay and I made these keepsake frames for our moms. Jay even sat down and scrapbooked with me on them. They turned out really nicely and the moms loved them! The question is WHO? and the answer is MY MOM. Memories of things our moms did or said are printed on cardstock in different fonts and trimmed down. I choose a black and white theme because that would go with either mom's house decor, so I printed the pictures in black and white, also. We added some "bling" and embellishments along with ribbon to make it pop.

Jay even sat down and made his mom's frame, with just a little help from me. When he was done, he asked when the next crop was so he could go! I don't think so Tim! That's my girl time!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Wow. This week was FILLED with changes for my family! I'm usually FOR changes, but not one right after another. First, I turned 46. How did THAT happen? Aren't I still 20something? Yeah, in my dreams I am. I realize that this puts me 4 years from 50. Hello? Isn't that MIDDLE AGE? Don't answer that!

The next couple of big changes involve my baby boy, who really isn't a baby...he's a Tween. He participated in the Boy Scout Arrow of Light ceremony where he crossed over from a Cub Scout to a Boy Scout. He joined a new troop, filled with boys I do NOT know. He'll be going camping with these young men without his dad! How can I stop this? Answer: I can't. It's part of his growing up. Then, to add insult to injury, he graduated from 5th grade, crossing over to the Middle School. I knew this was coming. I was head of the planning committee for the graduation ceremonies. But it just happened so darned FAST! What happened to my "Binky Boy"? The one who used to watch Toy Story over and over and over again? The one that used to snuggle in my lap with his binky and his blankie so I could rock him to sleep and sing Desperado to him? The little boy who loved me to read Where the Wild Things Are to him? The cute little boy in the Superman pajamas? There is a book I have called "I'll Love You Forever" and it's a story about a mom and her baby boy and the changes the boy (and mom) goes through. But through the whole book, the main point is, no matter what stage of life the boy is in, his mom's love never changes. It always makes me cry. This summer will be one of many new adventures for my Binky Boy. And in spite of my fear and worry, I am excited to see him take these next steps. Jacob, I'll Love You Forever! Mom

Friday, May 7, 2010

Today is my daughter's 15th birthday and I'm sitting here, wondering, where did the time go? It seems like only yesterday....There are so many thoughts and feelings spinning around in my head, and I'm a bit emotional. But I think the perfect way to celebrate her birthday would be to tell you the amazing story of just how much God blessed us in May of 1995.
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It took us 4 years and 2 fertility doctors to get pregnant with her. There was a time when I thought I wasn't destined to even be a mother. I BEGGED God to let me have a baby and I had all but given up. Then, on my brother's 28th birthday in June of 1994, he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Cancer. I stopped begging for a baby and instead started begging for his life. I told God that I would give up my chances of a child of my own if it meant saving my baby brother's life. Whatever my brother might need from me, be it blood, bone marrow, an organ, it was his.
On the night of my brother's biopsy, my friend, Traci, called me from work to check on him. I said "Cancer." She said "I'm on my way." As she was leaving, a woman named Willie that worked with Traci said to her, "Wait. God has a message for your friend. He said to 'tell your friend that if she will profess her faith that God will heal her brother, she will get her miracle'." This woman knew nothing about me, not even my name. But Traci, being one of the finest Christian ladies I know, passed that message along to me. So, I started professing. To anyone I knew. Especially to my brother. Especially to my parents. And life went on, as much as it can with such a diagnosis hanging over our heads. Sometime later that summer, Willie told Traci that 3 different people had come to her to tell her that Melinda was pregnant. Traci didn't tell me that news until later, as even she was a little skeptical. But I believe with all my heart that those 3 strangers that went to Willie were angels, because I WAS pregnant! That Christmas, my brother and I were both so sick...he from the chemo, me from the pregnancy. We both looked terrible that day, but I was never happier!
On May 7, 1995, after 48 hours of labor, Michaela Anne was born via C-section, weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces with a full head of black hair! On May 10th, my brother went to his oncologist to get the results of his scans. He was cancer free! I got BOTH of my miracles!

So Happy 15th Birthday, Angel Baby Girl and Happy 15 years of being cured to my baby brother!
Thank you God, for both of them!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Yesterday evening, my kids experienced another first...I let them walk to the convienence store by our house WITHOUT me! If you know me, I know you are shocked. I am overprotective and will not apologize for that. This is a crazy world and I want my children to be safe. They aren't allowed to play in the street, put plastic bags over their heads or dry their hair while standing in the shower. I watch where they are surfing on the internet. I don't allow them to watch rated R movies and I don't approve of rap music. Yes, I DO allow them out of the house! Michaela, 15, babysits and Jacob, 11 in June, plays golf and baseball. They both go to different summer camps and activities and neither of their parents are there. I let them go to public school AND ride the school bus. And occasionally, I let them shop on a different aisle from me in a store. If it's a SMALL store. A VERY SMALL store. But I have NEVER let them walk to a store and cross a busy road without me holding onto their hands!
When I suggested they do it, (yes, it was even MY idea!!) they thought I had lost my mind. They were freaked out and wondering where their real mother was. I ran through different scenarios, the "what would you do" things that I've been preaching to them since they were in the womb. I told them to stay together and to watch the cars and to keep that cell phone in their hands. I hugged them and told them I loved them. And I let them walk out the door. Without me. My heart was racing and I couldn't breathe. I thought I was going to throw up or faint. So I prayed for their saftey and did the only thing I could think to do....I called my mommy!!!!
My kids made it home alive and when they walked in the door, they were beaming. They admitted to me that yes, they were nervous, but that they had prayed before they left. I could tell that giving them that tiny bit of freedom and independance was a GOOD thing and they proved to me that they HAVE been listening to my "lectures". Jake sat down, looked at me and said "Now you can trust us." Yeah, I think I can. But let's take this independance thing in baby steps please!!!! Today it's a walk to the store...tomorrow...DRIVERS ED. Good thing I have free long distance calling to my mommy!

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About Me

I am a working mother of two teens, spoiled dachshund and an effervescent Golden Retriever. AND I have a husband who is addicted to fishing. I love to cook, scrapbook, read, watch movies and hang out with my family and my friends. This blog is a place for me to store the extra stuff in my head!